He's been in the field for nearly three decades, starting out as a teacher and football coach in the 1980s, then moving on to principal, director of schools and assistant superintendent of secondary schools.

But McMinimee, 50, has a link to Douglas County, where he has worked for a dozen years. And that's causing problems for this father of two, who wants to lead Jefferson County schools as its next superintendent.

Many teachers and parents eye him with suspicion, afraid that he might bring to Jeffco some of the controversial reforms that have taken root in the last few years under a decidedly right-leaning Douglas County school board.

"It sure looks like it's becoming Douglas County," said Erin Murphy, a teacher at Alameda International High School in Lakewood, who wonders if McMinimee is simply coming to Jefferson County to do the bidding of the school board's new conservative majority.

On Tuesday evening, the board will decide whether to hire McMinimee, who earlier this month emerged on a split vote as the sole finalist for the top post of Colorado's second-largest school district.

Former Republican state Rep. Rob Witwer said McMinimee has devoted his life to public education, both in Oregon and Colorado.

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"It's unfortunate the level of animosity has grown to the point that this man isn't being given a fair opportunity to make his case to the community," he said. "If he somehow managed to walk on water, his critics would proclaim, 'Dan McMinimee can't swim.' "

Jim Christensen, former superintendent of the Douglas County School District who now heads the Arrow Academy in Houston, said McMinimee has the right skill set to be superintendent. He is a critical thinker, a nurturer and someone who believes in collaboration, Christensen said.

He said McMinimee was no rubber stamp during the seven years he worked with him.

"He would always share his professional opinion, and it would always be with an eye toward what is good for the kids, what is good for the community and what is good for the staff," he said. "When Dan gets the chance to represent himself in that lead chair, I believe he'll be successful."

But Courtney Smith, president of the Douglas County Federation, said McMinimee lost his way as the makeup of the board changed. She sat across the table from him during the ill-fated teacher contract negotiations of 2012, during which she said McMinimee didn't advocate sufficiently for teachers in front of the board.

"At one point, he was a principal in the district. He saw firsthand how incredible the work was that was being done with teachers and the district," Smith said. "And then to take part in the top-down initiatives that have harmed Douglas County. He was a part of that."

Those measures include pushing for a voucher program, shutting out the teachers' union and swapping a traditional pay scale for a market-based system.

Ami Prichard, president of the Jefferson County Education Association, is concerned about any effort that might be made to import Douglas County's teacher evaluation system into Jefferson County.

District leaders in Douglas County last year replaced the traditional salary scale that considers teacher tenure and education level with their own scale, which instead weighs educator evaluations and places positions in certain salary tiers based on whether they are tougher to fill.

"I do not believe that the Douglas County model of teacher evaluation is better than the Jeffco model," Prichard said.

Ben DeGrow, education policy analyst with the Independence Institute, said McMinimee has deep roots in Jefferson County. He grew up in Arvada and Littleton and has lived in Jefferson County for the past four years. Both of his children attended schools in the district.

He said McMinimee is known for focusing on data and bolstering student achievement. His leadership at Rock Canyon High was notable, DeGrow said, given the solid academic reputation the school has.

"Some people can't see beyond the Dougco connection," he said. "I think it would be wise to give him a chance and see what he can do."

Lockheed says object part of 'sensor technology' testing that ended ThursdayWhat the heck is that thing? It's fair to assume that question was on the minds of many people who traveled along Colo. 128 south of Boulder this week if they happened to catch a glimpse of what appeared to be a large, silver projectile perched alongside the highway and pointed north toward town.

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